Preview: Daejeon Citizen vs FC Anyang

Fresh from a first home win of the season, Daejeon Citizen welcome FC Anyang to Purple Arena this Sunday looking to record back-to-back wins for the first time since round two. Ko Jongsoo's men ended a run of five games without a win by easing past Bucheon FC 1995 on Monday night. The Violets, meanwhile, make the trip to Daejeon on the back of an impressive away win over K League 2 Champions Asan Mugunghwa.

Overview 

Last Time Out

Daejeon Citizen 1-0 Bucheon FC 1995

An Aurelian Chițu header in the 79th minute gave Daejeon Citizen a much-needed win over Bucheon FC 1995 on Monday night. The Purples had slipped to the lower reaches of the K League 2 table but the victory, their first in five in all competitions, was enough to lift Ko Jongsoo's men to third.

Despite dominating for most of the match, Daejeon struggled to find a rhythm in the final third. Chițu in particular cut a frustrated figure up front and so it wasn't long into the second period before Coach Ko made some tactical adjustments; Shohruh Gadoev came on to replace his compatriot Sanzhar Tursanov on the hour mark. The change paid dividends as, with just over 10 minutes of normal time remaining, Gadeov sent in a trademark cross from deep onto the head of Chițu who powered the ball into the top corner.

Thereafter, Daejeon were under the cosh somewhat and even reverted to a back five. First year professional Lee Jungmoon, who can operate as either a central midfielder or centre back, was brought on for Shin Hakyoung to shore up the defence. Lee made a few telling contributions as the Purples hung on to the three points.

Highlights: here

Asan Mugunghwa 0-2 FC Anyang

A late showing at Yi Sunsin Stadium gave FC Anyang three points over K League 2 Champions Asan Mugunghwa. Cho Kyusung and Alex Lima with goals on 86 and 90 minutes respectively was enough to earn the Violets their second win of the week after the FA Cup giant killing over Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.

The deadlock was finally broken with four minutes to go, Alex Lima feeding Palacios who ushered the ball into the feet of Kim Sangwon who subsequently found Cho Kyusung on the edge of the six yard box. Cho was left with the relatively simple task of turning the ball home into an empty net. Left-footed, and with an emphatic close-range strike, Cho duly obliged to give Kim Hyungryul's side a deserved lead.

Cho thought he had a second after converting Palacios' cut back in the 90th minute but VAR intervened following a foul on Lee Myeongjoo in the build up. Anyang did get their second though, again with Kim Sangwon instrumental. Picking the ball up from a throw-in, Kim looped the ball towards the far post from the byline where former Suwon FC midfielder Alex Lima was waiting to nod into the top corner.

Highlights: here

Previous Meetings

FC Anyang's last visit to Purple Arena, in November last year, resulted in a 2-2 draw, despite the Violets holding a two-goal lead. Wesley Alex gave Anyang the lead on nine minutes before Citizen centre back Yun Junsung turned the ball into his own goal to double Anyang's advantage. However, Cho Kwibeom pulled one back thanks to an error from former Daejeon goalkeeper Jeon Soohyun before Park Inhyeok levelled on 84, atoning for an earlier penalty miss.

In May 2018 the two teams played out a five-goal thriller at Daejeon World Cup Stadium. Shohruh Gadoev gave Daejeon the lead on 29 minutes before Aurelian Chitu made it 2-0 on the stroke of half time. Immediately after the restart, Wesley Alex pulled one back from the spot only for Gadoev to restore the hosts' two-goal advantage just three minutes later. Alex pulled one back in the dying embers but proved to be scant consolation for Anyang.

In total, Daejeon Citizen and FC Anyang have met on 16 previous occasions with Daejeon having the upper hand with six wins to Anyang's four and six draws. In Daejeon, the Purples have four wins to Anyang's two and two draws.

Team News

Daejeon will be without centre back Lee Jeesol on account of the youngster being called up to the Korea U20 training camp ahead of the forthcoming U20 World Cup. Lee was seen as an ideal replacement for Ko Myeongseok who joined Suwon Bluewings during the winter and has played in every single league match this season. During the home win over Bucheon, Lee Jungmoon was brought in late into the second half to shore things up in a back five. The former Yeonsei University youngster can play as a central midfielder or as a centre back and so could fill in for Lee.

Daejeon Citizen lineup versus Bucheon FC 1995, K League 2 Round 7

The Adversary

Anyang have turned a corner in terms of form, with a clear 2-0 victory over Asan Mugunghwa last time out. Although the Violets did win with an element of luck, they showed their ability to be defensively more solid after the 4-1 thrashing by Seoul E-Land. They have proved that the 1-0 victory in the FA Cup over Jeonbuk was not just a fluke.

Manager Kim Hyungryeol changed his system at half time against Asan which proved to be the key to success, bringing on Cho Kyusung the number nine target man, who held up the ball in the second half which subsequently brought more possession and chances. Cho could be given the nod over Ukrainian fotward Kovtalyuk, who does have talent but against a Daejeon team full of quality, they will need to have the ball to cause chances.

Anyang will most likely line up in an inverted 5-3-2 against Daejeon, with the quality difference between the teams causing Anyang to possibly consider a more defensive approach. Palacios is going to be the main man for Anyang trying to utilise his pace to cause holes in the Daejeon back line. Alex Lima will keep his more midfield controlling role and exploit those holes to try and create channels for crosses and goals on the counter attack
-Paul Bettridge

FC Anyang lineup versus Asan Mugunghwa, K League 2 Round 7

Who To Watch

Daejeon Citizen - Shohruh Gadoev

Uzbek attacking midfielder Shorhuh Gadeov will have perhaps considered himself unlucky so far this season with his compatriot Sanzhar Tursanov, as well as Kim Seungseop preferred out wide in Daejeon's front three. However, the 27 year-old hasn't started a single match this term, despite the Purples' misfortunes in front of goal and lack of accuracy from wide areas.

Gadeov came off the bench to set up Aurelian Chițu for Citizen's winning goal at home to Bucheon FC 1995 on Monday - displaying what qualities the former Bunyodkor man possesses. Should Gadoev get the nod, full back Park Sooil could switch to right back so that the Purples' two most proficient crossers of the ball are on opposing flanks.

FC Anyang - Cho Kyuseong

Cho Kyusung is in his first season as a professional having joined FC Anyang from Gwangju University during the winter. Cho has made five appearances so far, four of which came from the start. The 21 year-old, who went to high school in Anyang, bagged his first goal as a professional during the 2-0 win over Asan Mugunghwa last time out, showing predatory instincts to get into the right place at the right time to sweep home Kim Sangwon's pass six yards out. The youngster thought he had bagged his second of the game on 90 minutes with a similar finish but VAR chalked the goal off due to a foul in the buildup.

Prediction

Daejeon are begging to show they are hard to beat again having kept two cleansheets in a row - a 0-0 draw away to league leaders Gwangju and the 1-0 home win over Bucheon. In fact, the Purples have conceded the second fewest in K League 2 this season with six, only Gwangju have a better record.Instead, it is in front of goal where Daejeon have their problems.  That said, Aurelian Chitu got back amongst the goals on Monday, heading home a late winner.

If Daejeon can get Gadeov on the pitch, and provide the right service to Chițu then Ko Jongsoo's men have enough to pick up a home win. Anyang, though, will be full of confidence after the FA Cup giant killing win over Jeonbuk, not to mention a win over last season's K League 2 Champions Asan Mugunghwa last time out.

K League 2 Round 8 Preview: here